Refrigerator door latch



Oct. 12, 1948.

REFRIGERATOR DOOR LATCH 2 Shouts-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 24, 1943 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 24, 1943 i w 5 f i 6 l 2 w 6 4 w 1 K E x \\W jW A 5 d "W ll a v *1 a; j! L w v 4 I w m M 7 rL-lli 71 Z w w b 1. w a vvuiii L Patented Oct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATORDOOR LATCH Application December 24, 1943, Serial No. 515,570

11 Claims.

This invention relates to latches of the type generally used onrefrigerator doors.

More particularly, the invention relates to latches of the typedisclosed in the co-pending 2 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2showing the mechanism in latched position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the latching mechanism detached fromthe door and with parts application of George E. Curtiss, Jr., SerialNo. 5 broken away; and

507,839, filed October 2'7, 1943, wherein a toggle Figure 5 is aperspective view of an element of mechanism is employed in such manneras to the mechanism.

amplify the main source of latching power to Referring now to thedrawings, and more parapply an unusually large draw-in of the door toticularly to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, the numeral its closed positionand deliver its maximum avail- I designates a domestic type refrigeratorcomable force at the time when the door is fully closed. This latchmechanism also is provided with a self-cocking device comprising atrigger mechanism which acts to cock the latch in a retracted positionready to snap to an advanced operative position when the refrigeratordoor is swung closed, and it is in respect to an improvingsimplification of this self-cocking feature that the present inventionhas particular reference.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a self-cockinglatch mechanism characterized by a minimum of mechanical complexity.

Another object is to provide a self-cocking latch mechanism of thespring-actuated type wherein the cocking action is effected primarily bya combined action of the spring and of the transmission elements whichserve as the operative connection between the spring and the movablelatch member.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide aself-cocking latch mechanism of the spring-and-toggle actuator typewherein the cocking action is a function primarily of thespring-and-toggle mechanism itself exclusive of complicating triggerdevices such as employed in the latch mechanism disclosed in theaforesaid Curtiss application.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self-cocking latchmechanism which is characterized by relative ease of operation; andwherein extremely light forces are sufficient to cause uncocking andsubsequent prompt actuati'n of the latch.

A further object is to provide a, latch mechanism which is of sturdy,compact and inexpensive construction, and which possesses long wearingqualities.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator embodying theinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken in thehorizontal plane indicated by the line 22, Figure 1, showing themechanism in unlatched position:

prising a cabinet 2 and a door 3. the latter having an inner panel I andan outer panel 5 joined about their peripheries at 6 as by screws 1which serve also to fasten the customary resilient sealing gasket 8 tothe door at that juncture. A suitable door handle 9, which may be ofstandard design, is pivotally mounted by way of a pin II in lugs H of asubstantially flat member l2 secured to the exterior of the outer panel5 of the door 3 by screws or the like II, said member being providedwith outwardly turned lugs I4 which serve to secure a circular faceplate I! about the base of the handle 9. The resilient sealing gasket 8on the door 3 is adapted to close against a door jamb I6 of the cabinet2 and provides an airtight seal between the door and the cabinet whenthe door is closed. The door jamb I5 is equipped with an adjustablymounted keeper I! which is provided with a release surface or abutmentIla, the purpose of which is explained hereinafter.

As best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the latch comprises asubstantially channelshaped support or housing I! comprising a bottomwall I9 and a pair of parallel side walls 20, 2. having at the forwardends thereof slotted ear portions 2| turned outwardly at right angles.As shown in Figure 2, screws 22 pass through these slotted ear portions2| and are threaded into a member 23 which extends outwardly from thejuncture 6 of the outer and inner door panels and is secured to the doorat this juncture by the screw 1, thereby providing a fastening for theforward end of the housing ll to the door I. The right or rearward endof this housing II is fastened through its bottom wall l9 to the insideof the outer door panel 5 by the same screw I: which secures the flatmember I! to the outside of said panel 5.

Between the parallel walls 20, 20 of the housing I8 is a latch bolt 24(see Figures 4 and 5) preferably comprising a pair of spacedsubstantially Z-shaped bolt arms 25, 25 each of which has its bottom end28 pivotally attached to the walls 20, 20 by a pivot pin 21 locatedtoward the rear of said walls and at a point offset to the right fromthe keeper H, 'as viewed in Figures 2 and 3. This pivotal mountingprovides for movement of the othgr end of the bolt 24 in a substantiallystraight-line or flat are between positions behind and clear of the saidkeeper l1 as shown in Figures 3 and 2 respectively. Rotatably carried bythis other end of the Z-shaped bolt 24 is a selflubricating cylinder orroller 28 which provides substantially frictionless engagement of saidbolt 24 with the surfaces of the keeper 11.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, a toggle mechanismmovable between extended and retracted positions as later described andcomprising a toggle joint 29, is provided within the housing l8, beingarranged to turn the bolt arms 25, 25 about the pivot pin 21 so that theroller 28 is moved into and out of operative engagement with the keeperH. In accordance with the present invention, the toggle joint 29preferably comprises a pair of spaced links 30, 33 attached to theaforesaid bolt arms 25, 25 by a pivot pin 3|, and a pair of relativelyshort links 32, 32 journaled on the housing walls 23, 23 by a pivot pin33. While pairs of links are preferred, it is to be understood that thelinks of the toggle joint could just as well be single, and it should beunderstood that links of other relative lengths may be used withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

The short links 32, 3'2 are provided with ear portions 34, 34 to whichis pivotally connected one end 35 of a rod 36 having its other endformed with an elongated loop 31 which provides a. slot 33 for receptionof a pin 39 on the handle 9. This pin 33 is offset from the pivot ID ofthe handle, and with the slot 38 provides a lost motion connectionbetween the handle and the rod 35. The handle 9 is normally urged in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 2 and 3, to a positionin proximity to the outer panel of the door 3 by a spring pressed pin 43located on the opposite side of the pivot pin in from the pin 39.

As more clearly illustrated in Figure 3, the pivot pin 33 is located onan imaginary straight line which intersects the pivotal mounting pin 21of the bolt arms 25, 25 and the outer end of the bolt structure, and theZ-shape of the bolt arms provides the clearance necessary to avoidinterference between the pin 33 and the arms during pivotal movements ofthe latter to and from latching position.

The links 33, 33 and 32, 32 are pivotally united by a pivot pin 4ithereby forming the knuckle 42 of the toggle joint 29 and this knuckleis constrained in its movements to an arcuate path defined by therotation of links 32, 32 about the pin 33. Pivotally attached to the pin4| at the knuckle 42 and between the links 33, 33 and 32, 32 is arearwardly extending link 43 having its rear.- ward end slotted as at 44to receive therethrouzh the pivot pin 21 which serves to guidlnglysupport the link 43 above the bottom wall l9 of the houslng I3. The slot44 also restricts the forward motion of the toggle to an extendedsubstantially straight line position when the latch is in its fullylocked position. Inwardly turned from the top edge of the side walls 23.23 are a pair of stop members 45, 45 serving to limit the retractivemovement of the knuckle 42. These stops 45, 45 may be eliminated ifdesired and the bolt arms 25, 25 allowed to contact the pin 33 to stopthe retractive movement of the bolt at the desired position.

Surrounding the link 43 and carried thereby is a coil spring 43 havingits ends seated upon slotted washers 41 and 43 through which the link 43passes, the rearward end of the spring 43 being anchored against the pin21, while the forward end of the spring bears against a pair ofabutments 43, 43 on the link 43, disposed closely adjacent the knuckle42 of the toggle joint 29, and in eifect presses directly against thesaid knuckle.

The operation of the device is as follows: As viewed in Figure 3, theroller 23 of the bolt 24 is in a latched position behind the keeper l1.When it is desired to open the door, the handle 9 is grasped and rotatedin a clockwise direction about its pivot ID. This movement carries thepin 39 also in a clockwise direction about the pivot In which draws therod 33 downwardly and thereby rotates the short links 32, 32 in acounterclockwise direction about the pivot 33 thereby breaking and thenretracting the toggle. Normally the movement continues-until the knuckle42 meets the stops 45 at which point the links 32 will have moved to or,preferably, slightly past a position of dead center with respect to thelink 43 and to the thrust of the spring 43, wherein the pressure of thespring will tend to hold the toggle cocked in retracted position. Asillustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the said dead center positionoccurs when a straight line between the axes of the pins 33 and 4|corresponds to or parallels an imaginary line 53 intersecting the axesof the pins 33 and 21. Retraction of the toggle as described actsthrough the long links 33, 33 to move the bolt arms 25, 25 in aclockwise direction to an extent withdrawing the roller 23 from behindthe keeper l1, thereby permitting the door to be swung open. The

. slot 33 in the rod 33 allows the handle 3 to resume its normalposition on the door under the urge of the spring pressed pin 4M! whilethe latch bolt remains in its cocked position.

To close and latch the door, the latter is merely swung toward closedposition until the roller 28 strikes the abutment Ila which causes thebolt arms 25, 25 to move in a counterclockwise direction about the pin21 thereby drawing the long links 33 and the knuckle 42 away from thestops 45 and turning the links 32 back past the aforesaid dead centerposition so that the thrust of the spring 43 may again operate to urgethe toggle toward the extended position. At the instant the knuckle 42passes the line of dead center between the thrust of the spring and thepivoted axis 33 of the link 32, the bolt arms 25, 25 are urged by thepressure of the spring. acting through the toggle, in a counterclockwisedirection about the pivot 21 thereby moving the roller 23 from behindinto forcible contact'with the inner side of the keeper l1, the pressureof said contact increasing as the toggle approaches the fully extendedposition and drawing the door forcibly into its closed position.

It will now be apparent that the arrangement of parts which affords thedead center relation between the spring and one of the primary links ofthe toggle, when the latter is retracted, provides a self-cocking meanswhich is independent of special trigger devices and which requiressubstantially no structure other than that which is essential to thespring and toggle mechanism itself. Anothervaluable characteristic ofthe device resides in its relatively high sensitivity to release fromthe cocked condition, so that in closing the door a very light pressureof the roller 23 against the abutment Ha is sumcient to insure latchingof the door. It is to be noted also that the individual parts of thelatching mechanism are of sturdy, inexpensive and relatively simpledesign well adapted to mass production methods.

lt uill be understood further that the apparatus described and shownherein, including the configuration of the several parts thereof, isillustrative only of the inventive principles involved, and that theseprinciples may be applied in other physical embodiments within the scopeof the claims Without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. A door latch comprising a movable latching member adapted to engage akeeper, a support, toggle means movable to extended and retractedpositions to move said member into and out of latching engagement withsaid keeper respectively, said toggle means comprising a first linkhaving one end pivoted on said support and a second link having one endpivoted on said latching member, said links being pivoted together attheir other ends to form a knuckle, spring means interposed between saidtoggle means and a reaction point removed therefrom effective to movesaid toggle to its extended position with the said knuckle disposed atone side of the line of thrust of the spring with respect to the pivotof the first link on said support, and manual means for moving saidtoggle to its retracted position with the knuckle disposed at theopposite side of said line, said toggle being resiliently held in saidretracted position by said spring means.

2. A door latch comprising a pivotally mounted latching member adaptedto engage a keeper, a support, toggle means movable to extended andretracted positions to move said member into and out of latchingengagement with said keeper respectively, said toggle means comprising afirst link having one end pivoted on said support and a second linkhaving one end pivoted on said latching member, said links being pivotedtogether at their other ends to form a knuckle, spring means interposedbetween said toggle means and a reaction point removed therefromefiective to move said toggle to its extended position with the saidknuckle disposed at one side of the line of thrust of the spring withrespect to the pivot of the first link on said support, and manual meansfor moving said toggle to its retracted position with the knuckledisposed at the opposite side of said line, said toggle beingresiliently held in said retracted position by said spring means,engagement of said latching member with the keeper serving to releasesaid spring means to efiect movement of said toggle to its extendedposition by said spring means.

3. A door latch comprising pivotally mounted latching means arranged forrotation into and out of latching engagement with a keeper, a supporttoggle means movable to extended and retracted terminal positions torotate said latching means into and out of latching engagement with saidkeeper respectively, said toggle means comprising a first link havingone end pivoted to said support and a second link having one end pivotedon said latching means, said links being pivoted together at their otherends to form a knuckle, resilient means reacting between said togglemeans and the support at a point removed from said toggle means toeflect movement thereof to its extended position with the knuckledisposed at one side of the line of thrust of said resilient means withrespect to the pivot of the first link on said support, and manual meansfor moving said toggle means to its retracted position against thepressure 01' said resilient means to a position where the knuckle isdisposed at the opposite side of said line, said resilient means alsoreacting against said toggle means to hold the same in said retractedposition.

4. A door latch comprising pivotally mounted latching means arranged forrotation into and out of engagement with a keeper, support means, togglemeans comprising a first link mounted for pivotal movement about an axisand operable to react against said support means, and a longer linkoperatively associated with said latching means, said links beingpivotally connected together to form a, knuckle, said toggle means beingmovable to extended and retracted terminal positions to rotate saidlatching means into and out of latching engagement with said keeperrespectively, spring means anchored to said support means at a pointremoved from said links and impinging against said knuckle for efiectingmovement of said toggle means into said extended position with theknuckle disposed at one side of the dead center line of thrust of thespring means with respect to the axis of the first link, manual meansoperable to move said knuckle over said dead center line, said springmeans being thereby operable to hold said toggle means in saidlastmentioned over center position, and means limiting said over centermovement.

5. A latching mechanism comprising a movable latching member adapted toengage a keeper, a support, a toggle having a first link pivotallymounted on said support and a longer link operatively associated withsaid member, said toggle being movable to extended and retractedpositions to move said member into and out of latching position withsaid keeper respectively, spring means interposed between the knuckle ofsaid toggle and a reaction point removed from said links and having itsdirection of thrust shiftable over a dead center position with respectto the axis of the pivotal mounting of the first link so that on oneside of said dead center position said spring is effective to move saidtoggle to its extended position to actuate said member into latchingposition and on the other side of said dead center position is effectiveto hold said toggle in retracted position and said member out oflatching position, and manual means operable to shift the spring thrustto the side of the dead center position in which the toggle isretracted, engagement of said latching member with the keeper serving toshift said spring thrust to the opposite side of said dead centerposition to hold said toggle in retracted position and said latchingmember out of latching position.

6. A latching mechanism comprising a movable latching member adapted toengage a keeper, a support, a. toggle having a first link pivotallymounted on said support and a second link operatively associated withsaid member, said toggle being movable to extended and retractedpositions to move said member into and out of latching position withsaid keeper respectively, spring means operable to efiect actuation ofsaid toggle to its extended position, and manual means for efi'ectingactuation of said toggle to its retracted position, said manual meansincluding a pivotally mounted handle and a connecting rod having one endthereof pivotally connected to said first link and its other endpivotally attached to said handle so that rotation of said handleoperates to rotate said first link about its axis and move said toggleto said retracted position.

- 7. A latching mechanism comprising a movable latching member adaptedto engage a keeper, a support, a toggle having a first link pivotallymounted on said support and a longer link operatively associated withsaid member, said toggle being ngovable to extended and retractedpositions to move said member into and out of latching position withsaid keeper respectively, spring means having its direction of thrustshiftable over a dead center position with respect to the axis of thepivotal mounting of the first link so that on one side of said deadcenter position said spring is effective to move said toggle to itsextended position to actuate said member into latching position and onthe other side of said dead center position is eifective to hold saidtoggle in retracted position and said member out of latching position,manual means operable to shift the spring thrust to the latter side ofthe dead center position, said manual means including a pivotallymounted handle and a connecting rod having one end thereof pivotallyconnected to said first link and its other end pivotally connected tosaid handle so that rotation of the handle operates to rotate said firstlink and move said toggle to retracted position and to shift said springthrust over the said dead center position to hold the toggle in saidretracted position.

8. A door latch comprising a movable latching member arranged formovement into and out of latching engagement with a keeper, a support,toggle means movable to extended and retracted terminal positions torespectively advance and retract said member with respect to saidkeeper, said toggle means comprising a first link mounted for movementabout an axis in said support and a second link pivoted to said firstlink and operatively associated with said member, and resilient meansreacting between said toggle means and a reaction point removed fromsaid toggle means and having its direction of thrust shiftable over adead center line of thrust of said spring with respect to the axis ofsaid first link whereby to direct the force exerted by said resilientmeans for retaining the toggle means in each of said terminal positions.

9. A door latch comprising a latch member movable between advanced andretracted positions with respect to a keeper, a toggle joint actuatorfor the member, arranged with respect to the latter so that advancementand retraction of the member is effected respectively by extension andretraction of the joint, said joint comprising pivotally connected armsand a fixed pivot for one of said arms against which the joint reacts inadvancing and retracting said member, a spring interposed between saidtoggle joint and a reaction point removed from said arms and exertingpressure on said arms tending normally to extend the joint, and meansfor retracting the joint to an extent bringing the one said arm intodead center relation with respect to its fixed pivot and to the line ofthrust of said spring whereby the spring pressure becomes operative toresist return movement of the joint toward extended position.

10. A door latch comprising a supporting structure, a latch boltpivotally mounted on said structure, a toggle comprising a first linkpivoted on said structure and a second link pivoted on said first linkand on said bolt eccentrically of the pivotal axis of said bolt, aspring mounted on said structure laterally of said toggle and arrangedto exert pressure on the pivotal connection between said first andsecond links, said spring being arranged for movement overcenter withrespect to the pivot of said first link on said structure to force saidtoggle into its locked and broken positions, said toggle in its brokenposition holding said bolt in its retracted position and said toggle inits locked position locking said bolt in its latching position, theforce of said spring being multiplied during movement of said toggletoward its locked position, manually operable means for moving saidspring overcenter to unlock said toggle, and tripping means for movingsaid spring overcenter to lock said toggle.

11. A door latch comprising a supporting structure, a latch boltpivotally mounted on said structure, a toggle comprising a first linkpivoted on said structure and a second link pivoted on said first linkand on said bolt eccentrically of the pivotal axis of said bolt, aspring mounted on said structure laterally of said toggle and arrangedto exert pressure on the pivotal connection between said first andsecond links, said spring being arranged for movement overcenter withrespect to the pivot of said first link on said structure to force saidtoggle into its locked and broken positions, said toggle in its brokenposition holding said bolt in its retracted position and said toggle inits locked position locking said bolt in its latching position, theforce of said spring being multiplied during movement of said toggletoward its locked position, manually operable means including a handleand a lost motion connection between said handle and said first link formoving said toggle out of its locked position and for moving said springovercenter whereby said toggle is driven to its broken position, andtripping means for moving said toggle out of its unlocked position andovercenter to rotate said bolt and move it into latching position.

GEORGE E. CURTISS, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,192,448 Ottinger July 25, 19161,222,396 Hagstrom Apr. 10, 191'? 1,873,560 Ekman Aug. 23, 19322,210,495 North Aug. 6, 1940 f Y 2,451,381Ge0rge E. Ourtz'ss, J2.

t Z x Disclaimer Penn Wynne, Pa. REFRIGERATOR DOOR LATCH. Patent datedOct. 12, 1948. Disclaimer filed Aug. 28, 1951, by the assignee, Phz'lcoCorporation.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11 ofsaid patent.

[Ofiioz'al Gazette October .9, 1951.]

